Local Park and Recreation agencies Can Create Special ?Parks and Recreation Nights at the Arena? at WNBA Games

The National Recreation and Park Association and the WNBA Announce Partnership


The National Recreation and Park Association and the WNBA have formalized a community partnership at the national level to jointly develop programs that promote the health and well-being of young people across the country. The WNBA will be a partner with NRPA to fulfill their mission of promoting public awareness and support for recreation, park, and leisure services, and developing the social stability of communities and the physical and mental health of individuals. The National Recreation and Park Association and the WNBA share a common goal�reaching, motivating and inspiring young people through sports. Did you know that twenty-eight percent of fans in WNBA arenas are under 18 years of age and the vast majority of those young fans are female? This partnership can help increase participation of girls in NRPA programs across the country and will also help increase exposure for local NRPA sports programs in general. The WNBA has excellent role models and great basketball entertainment for young people of all ages and genders.

Local NRPA agencies can take advantage of this special opportunity to activate the WNBA partnership by attending or participating in a � NRPA Night� or a WNBA �Camp Day� at the arena during one of the team�s 2002 home games. The WNBA season tips off on May 25 and ends on August 13. An added bonus of attending a special �NRPA Night� at the arena or WNBA �Camp Day� is that your association may receive discount tickets to the game and could be recognized on the arena PA system and/or the jumbotron.

** The NRPA and WNBA partnership can offer you a myriad of additional benefits, depending on the level of your group�s local participation

  • WNBA player and/or coach appearances at group events
  • WNBA player-led and/or coach-led basketball clinics for local teams
  • Possible Olympic or collegiate athlete speaker for sports other than basketball prior to the game
  • Concourse tabling at WNBA arena (to enable local agencies to distribute program and recruitment information)
  • Behind-the-scenes arena tour
  • On-court activity (scrimmage, honorary ball person, etc.)
  • Overnight sleep-over in the arena
  • Fundraising opportunities (auction items availability, etc.)

    **Exact benefits to be negotiated between WNBA teams and local park and recreation agencies

    The NRPA is asking departments with proximity to a WNBA team to take advantage of this great opportunity by inviting a WNBA representative to come to a meeting of all the local sports team managers to promote the WNBA �Park & Recreation Night� opportunity. Don�t delay! Many WNBA teams are already making plans to host special nights for other groups and want to be available to come to your meeting. Please schedule these meetings as soon as possible by calling the WNBA team contact listed for your local area on the back of this page.

    NRPA ContactWNBA National Contact
    Kathy Spangler: Marketing Director Karin Buchholz: Director of Fan Development
    (800)-649-3042
    (212)-407-8657    		212-407-8657
    Email address: programs@nrpa.orgEmail address: kbuchholz@wnba.com
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